Object Constancy
- “why do I forget I love someone when I'm angry”
- “object constancy vs object permanence”
- “holding onto good feelings during conflict”
- “all good or all bad thinking”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Object constancy | Object permanence |
|---|---|---|
| Theorist | Mahler | Piaget |
| About | People | Things |
| Domain | Emotional | Cognitive |
| Arrives | Years | ~8–24 months |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders who land here meaning Object Constancy rather than Object permanence are usually searching for phrases like “why do I forget I love someone when I'm angry”, “object constancy vs object permanence”, “holding onto good feelings during conflict”.
03 · The mix-up
Where the confusion comes from
The mix-up“Object constancy is the same as object permanence.”
What's true
Different theorists, different domains. Object permanence is Piaget's cognitive milestone about physical things persisting when unseen. Object constancy is a psychoanalytic idea about holding a stable emotional picture of a person.
04 · Read either one